Generations in Agony...Texas: Chapter Fifteen

15) Charlie’s Grandfather…

It was almost four o’clock before Carl Speck Sr. finally made it back to the Esso to pick up his truck. Charlie watched, holding his breath, as the old man rode into the parking lot in a jeep, driven by a very short man in a large floppy hat. The man looked like he could be either Mexican or Indian, or both. Charlie could not tell for sure.

Carl stepped out of the Jeep and lifted his saddle and saddle bags from the rear, then turned to walk over to the truck.

Caleb was in the garage, working on Thelma Drylander’s Pontiac. Charlie looked in at him, thinking he maybe should tell Caleb that his grandfather was here. After all, they had not met before, and Caleb knew the man. But, Caleb was up to his elbows in spark plug wires. So, Charlie braced himself, unsure what, exactly he would do once his grandfather walked inside the office…

Watching through the window, Charlie felt his nerves amp up as the old man turned to come inside.

Carl stepped in from the brilliant sun and blinked a couple of times, then he saw Charlie standing behind the counter. “Came to get my truck.”

“Yes, sir, it’s ready.”

“What was wrong with it? Caleb around?”

“He’s in the garage working on another car, sir. Your truck had a bad distributor. We changed it and it’s running like a top, now.”

The old man nodded. “How much do I owe?”

Charlie gulped. “Eighty-seven, thirty three, sir.”

Carl’s jaw firmed and his lips pressed into a straight line of agony. His intense eyes scanned the boy. Then, a look of realization flashed through as he squinted. The look reminded Charlie of Clint Eastwood in ‘A Few Dollars More’. “What’s your name, son?”

“Charlie, sir. Charlie Speck.”

“Well, I’ll be damned. I’d just yesterday heard about you.”

Charlie did not know what to say. He held out his hand. “Nice to meet you, sir.”

Carl looked at the boy’s hand a second before he finally took hold and shook. “I’m sorry to hear about your daddy.”

“Thank you, sir.”

“Motorcycle accident, so I hear.”

Charlie nodded.

“Shame…”

“Yes, sir.”

“Y’all staying out at Nellie’s old place?”

“Yes, sir.”

Carl looked at his grandson a bit, then he pulled his wallet out and counted the money. “Hope Caleb fixed it good.”

“It’s running great, sir.”

“Should, for that price.”

Charlie was unsure of what to say to that, so he did not reply.

They stood there a moment longer before Carl finally tipped his hat back. “You gonna give me my keys?”

“Oh, yes, sir.” He spun and pulled the Chevy’s keys off of the small row of hooks behind the counter. “I already hooked the trailer back up for you.”

“Obliged…” Carl took the keys and looked at them in the palm of his hand. Without looking up, he nodded. “Spect I’ll see you around.”

“Nice to meet you, sir.”

Carl nodded. He turned and walked out the door quickly. The last thing he wanted was for the boy to see the tears that had suddenly come into his eyes. He blinked them back quickly and walked fast to the truck.

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